Boston Cannons to make Hingham home for a night on Saturday

Chris McDaniel cmcdaniel@wickedlocal.com @ChrisMcDaniel88

Monday

May 14, 2018 at 1:25 PMMay 15, 2018 at 8:53 AM

On Saturday night, Hingham High will play host to a new home team.

The Boston Cannons, a professional men’s lacrosse team in Major League Lacrosse, will conclude a busy day of lacrosse at 6 p.m. against the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the Harbormen’s friendly confines as a part of Cannons in Your Community initiative. Before the pros, who normally play home games at Harvard Stadium, take the field, the Hingham High lacrosse teams will also play. The Hingham girls host Braintree at noon while the Hingham boys will play Needham at 2 p.m. Hingham’s other athletic fields will be filled with club youth lacrosse games.

Local food trucks and vendors will also be on hand along with charity raffles. Harlem Lacrosse will participate in a clinic with members of the Cannons and Hingham lacrosse teams.

“It’s just a big celebration of lacrosse,” said Boston Cannons President Ian Frenette. “It isn’t just about the game, it’s about all the festivities leading up to the game.”

As of Friday, Frenette said the Cannons had sold 2,800 tickets and are expecting a sellout crowd of 3,000 people. Tickets start at $35.

“Hosting the Cannons is a dream come true for the Hingham lacrosse community,” said Director of Hingham Youth Boys Lacrosse Brian Hlidek in a Cannons’ press release. “We're grateful to have this opportunity to host the greatest players in the game.”

This will be the Cannons’ first game in a high school stadium. Boston will also play two games at Endicott College in Beverly. Last season, the Cannons started their annual High School Rivalry Series presented by Plymouth Rock Assurance. Catholic Memorial played Malden Catholic at Harvard Stadium before the Cannons’ game against the Dallas Rattlers on May 5. The Governor’s Academy and St. Sebastian’s School met on May 12.

The game between Hingham and Braintree will be the first girls game since the rivalry series began last year.

The current crop of Cannons have some ties to the South Shore. Davey Emala, an attackman, is an assistant coach for the Cohasset High boys lacrosse team. Sean Lawton (Abington) and Will Walker (Hingham) are South Shore natives.

In the off-season, the Cannons decided to try to set up a game in the South Shore for this season. Hingham was their first choice. The logistics of the day will resemble Homecoming Weekend.

In the fall, the Hingham High football team played at Fenway Park, defeating Scituate, 7-6, on Thanksgiving Eve.

“For these student athletes to get the chance to have these opportunities, they’re so fortunate,” said Hingham High Athletic Director Jim Quatromoni. “I feel so fortunate. It’s a testament to the support this community gives to the athletic department here at the high school.”

The Cannons are excited about the opportunity to play in a more confined stadium.

“Playing at Harvard, it’s a big stadium,” said Frenette. “It’s old, but it’s huge. Sometimes it can feel empty. We only see people on one side there so I think the players are really going to enjoy being in more of a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.”

Currently, the Cannons stand at 1-4 on the year while the Bayhawks are 2-2.